About the 勛圖惇蹋 Physician Assistant Department

The 勛圖惇蹋's Physician Assistant department offers the only PA degree program in Maine. Join our community of caring students and faculty who are committed to meeting the medical needs of diverse populations.

Become a Vital Part of a health Care Team

As health professionals licensed to practice medicine in collaboration with a physician, Physician Assistants know the value of successful teamwork in the health care setting. Our Portland, Maine-based Physician Assistant masters degree program draws from the expertise of faculty representing 勛圖惇蹋s Colleges of Health Professions, Osteopathic Medicine, and Arts and Sciences to prepare you, through coursework and clinical experiences, to work as part of an interdisciplinary team.

Fill out the form below for an info sheet on 勛圖惇蹋's M.S.P.A.

 

What Makes the 勛圖惇蹋 M.S.P.A. Special

State-of-the-Art Facilities

A physician assistant student practices taking blood pressure on a patient simulator

Your M.S.P.A. training is enriched by our state-of-the-art facilities and educational resources. Youll receive instruction not only in our medical colleges gross anatomy lab but also in our Interprofessional Simulation and Innovation Center, which is equipped with the latest media and medical instruction technology, including high fidelity patient simulators.

Exposure to Underserved Populations

Physician Assistant degree program field work.

Your education in 勛圖惇蹋s P.A. masters program will emphasize work with underserved communities, where you can really make a difference. From participation in our nationally recognized InterProfessional Geriatric Education Program, to clinical rotations in rural areas, you'll gain expertise in bringing quality health care and building relationships with those who need it most.

Team-Based Education

A dental student and a P A student in blue scrubs discuss dental work with a patient

As a comprehensive health sciences university, including programs in medicine, dental, nursing, pharmacy, and an array of other allied health professions, 勛圖惇蹋 is a national leader in interprofessional education. You'll graduate with the skills to thrive in today's collaborative care, prepared to work as a team with other health care professionals.

Collaborative Learning Environment

Two P A students use stethoscopes to listen to cardiac sounds from a patient simulator

Not only are faculty and staff highly collaborative and encouraging, but it wont take long before you notice how supportive your fellow PA students are as well. The friendly and cooperative, rather than competitive, spirit among classmates enhances everyones ability to learn and is a hallmark of 勛圖惇蹋s Physician Assistant masters degree program.

What Our PA Students Say

Morgan Dube stands smiling. She is holding her stethoscope around her neck

Morgan Dube '22

Physician Assistant (M.S.P.A.)

Experiential Education

What really drew me in about UNE is all of the opportunities for interprofessional learning. We are able to meet new people in all of the health professions and ultimately learn a lot more than just PA. Once I graduate, I know that I will be able to apply those experiences to my work because teamwork is so important in a health professions setting. In order to give patients the best care, you are always going to need to include other people in the work. The interprofessional opportunities at UNE are definitely my favorite part of the PA program. There are constantly more of these types of opportunities available, and its great.

We are working on things with 49 other students, so we have a great sense of teamwork, and everyone offers something unique. We will be working on teams in the future, so this type of practice now is great.

All of the students in my class have different backgrounds, which is really cool to experience. In each module that we have, we are learning different things, and there are certain people that are able to contribute their insights from past experiences in such useful ways. It enhances our learning experience and makes it so much more interesting and valuable.

Exceptional Teaching and Learning

We're in our cardio module right now, and learning how to read EKG is hard, but its really interesting and fun too. [Our professor] is super helpful. We were able to put EKGs on each other and get our own readings then interpret them, which I thought was really cool. One of the students in our lab was able to do a mock stress test with the EKG leads on while they were running on the treadmill too. It was a lot of fun to experience and learn.

I honestly can't say anything bad about UNE. 勛圖惇蹋 does a great job to adapt a lot and put our education first. I really feel like I am getting the best education here. Im learning so much so fast. Its really rewarding. I cant wait for clinicals in second year! We do at least six different rotations and then have two where we can choose what we want to do for the specialty. You can find your own preceptor that is willing to take you on, so its flexible. I think that will help me decide exactly what I want to do after I graduate.

The interprofessional opportunities at UNE are definitely my favorite part of the PA program.
Physician Assistant (M.S.P.A.)

Physician Assistant program by the numbers

1,920

Hours each student spends in clinical rotations

(second year)

 

3.55

Average cumulative GPA of most recent incoming class

 

95%

Average first-time pass rate on national certification exam

(PANCE)

Pance Pass rates

M.S.P.A. graduates are eligible to take the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) administered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. and see 勛圖惇蹋 pass rates (PDF).

The 勛圖惇蹋 Portland Campus for the Health Sciences

For decades, 勛圖惇蹋s Portland Campus has been home to many of the Universitys health professions programs including PA, PT, OT, pharmacy, nursing, dental medicine, and more. In 2025, 勛圖惇蹋s College of Osteopathic Medicine will move from the Biddeford Campus into the new Harold and Bibby Alfond Center for Health Sciences in Portland. By bringing our health professions programs together into one interprofessional learning community, we will establish 勛圖惇蹋s Portland Campus for the Health Sciences as the center of health care education in Northern New England.

Learn about exciting changes on 勛圖惇蹋s Portland Campus for the Health Sciences

Maines Leading University for the Health Professions and Sciences

Quality Academics, Respected Degrees

勛圖惇蹋 is proud of the recognition weve received, which echoes the success of our M.S.P.A. students: 92% of our graduates typically pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam on the first try.

Title
Best Physician Assistant Programs
Source
U.S. News & World Report
Year
2023
Title
Best Colleges: National
Source
U.S. News & World Report
Year
2024
Title
Best Colleges
Source
Princeton Review
Year
2024
Title
Best Colleges
Source
Money
Year
2023

Live and Study in Portland, Maine

勛圖惇蹋 offers the only Physician Assistant masters degree program in Maine. Our M.S.P.A. degree students study on our Portland, Maine campus, a classic New England quad with brick buildings and tall trees that's about 100 miles from downtown Boston. Portland, named Americas Most Livable City by Forbes and Foodiest Small Town in America by Bon Appetit, is the city on every list. A rustic port hosts a cool cultural scene with outdoor adventure all around. 勛圖惇蹋s campus is just 10 minutes from downtown. 

Portland, Maine lighthouse near 勛圖惇蹋.
Portland, Maine Old Port near 勛圖惇蹋's campus.
Portland, Maine working waterfront near 勛圖惇蹋.

Accreditation

勛圖惇蹋 is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. The Physician Assistant degree Program is accredited by the Accreditation Review Committee on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). The PA Program received provisional accreditation in 1996 and continuing accreditation in 1998. The program last received continuing accreditation in September 2018. Its review for continuing accreditation is next scheduled for 2026. The . Click on the document to access the programs Accreditation Actions.